Letters: 'Talking' whale, downtown fault lines, Seau and more

What would Flipper say?

In response to “ ‘Talking’ whale stuns scientists” (Oct. 24): When the research diver heard the word “out” when he was in the tank, it was probably the whale trying to say, “Let me out of this tank and put me back in the ocean where I belong.” – Bill DiMasi, Jamul

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Finding faults downtown

Italy isn’t the only place making dumb decisions over earthquake prediction (“Experts quit over quake trial,” Oct. 24). Here in San Diego, never-ending broken utility lines and stinky sewers are occurring because our local and state government officials have suspended their responsibility for oversight of development on known and suspected faults downtown.

Surprisingly, the city and Port of San Diego actually funded studies of downtown faults but refuse to release them. The reason? They probably don’t want to turn down potential development money and the resulting property taxes. Even non-geologists can see the cracks in the asphalt and cement adjacent to the Navy Broadway Complex and Tailgate Park. Geologists like myself see that the cracks have a distinctive pattern, thereby displaying the traces of some of these unmapped faults.

The most important unmapped fault is the onshore extension of the Coronado fault that projects right into the Navy Broadway Complex. This is where Doug Manchester has decided to build high-rise buildings, right on liquefiable soils. The Navy made the same decision for its new West Coast headquarters. I want written acknowledgment from the developers, the city, the port and the Navy that they are not going to request taxpayer money to fix all the structural damage that is going to follow the small and large earthquakes that occur here. We are already being soaked for the never-ending breakage of downtown sewer and water lines that supposedly were built to last 100 years, but keep getting broken where they cross these unmapped faults. Any judge want to tackle this issue like they did in Italy? – Eleanora Robbins, La Mesa

Seau’s plight was not Chargers’ responsibility

Having just read Monique Belmares’ letter (Oct. 23) regarding Junior Seau and her contention that the Chargers let him down by not offering him a coaching position, I’m left stunned and amazed. Amazed at the numerous assumptions Ms. Belmares makes.

Seau’s best friends didn’t truly know what his state of mind or finances were. Does she think the Chargers had any more insight? Did Seau even approach the Chargers for a job? Were they supposed to seek him out for some random reason? Why would or should they? Were the Chargers even looking for new coaches in the spring? Was Seau even qualified to coach at that level? Are NFL teams now charity organizations, handing out jobs to the needy instead of the qualified? Is she serious?

Seau could have done a few basic things to save himself but unfortunately he was no more wired to do those things than I am to transform myself into his lifelong way of viewing and behaving in this world. And Ms. Belmares’ type of wiring is all too common among those who misplace blame and try to hold responsible and accountable people and companies that have no connection at all to what ails the people she’d like to find help for. The social engineering that Ms. Belmares would likely espouse is incredibly out of place and ill-suited for solving problems like Seau’s. What’s really scary is that there are probably a lot of people who feel the same way. – Paul Jester, Scripps Ranch

Superpowers have resisted rebalancing U.N.

Happy 67th birthday to the United Nations [Oct. 24, 1945]. As I read old documents of hope from those, like me, who were around to see its birth after terrible World War II, I realize what a miracle it was at that time to get almost all of the countries on the Earth to sign on.

But I also see that, even then, those paying attention were disappointed that the five winners of the war designed the U.N. so they could keep most of the power via the Security Council. To this day, the superpowers haven’t abided by U.N. Charter Article 109 that insisted there should be a conference every 10 years to consider rebalancing the power structure.

As money, militarism and global meltdown races out of control, we need a planet that has the cooperation of ALL countries to intelligently design safety, sustainability and survivability. A stronger and more fair and transparent United Nations is the prize we should insist the politicians address if we want to hand over a livable planet to those who follow us. – Minnie Frew, Greendale, Wis.